Al-Assad confers with Lebanese prime minister

President Hafez al-Assad on Tuesday in Damascus received the Lebanese Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss where talks dealt with the bilateral and regional conditions and cooperation between the two "sisterly countries" in order to establish a just and comprehensive peace that provides for restoring the occupied lands and the usurped Arab rights to their owners.

President al-Assad, later in the day, received both Syrian Prime Minister Mahmoud al-Zou'bi and al-Hoss, and the two premiers briefed al-Assad on the progress of works of the Syrian - Lebanese coordination and follow-up committee and results attained in the areas of consolidating relations between the two countries.

Al-Assad expressed his satisfaction over what had been achieved. He also expressed optimism in the future of the "brotherly" relations between the two states.

On Tuesday evening, and upon al-Hoss' return from Damascus, Lebanese President Emile Lahoud received al-Hoss.

Al-Hoss told his president about the results of his meeting with President al-Assad as well as the results of the meetings of the fourth session of the Syrian - Lebanese coordination and follow-up committee.

Earlier in the day, al-Hoss and members of his accompanying delegation returned home from Damascus following a two-day official visit to Syria.